Derbyshire journalist Peter Hampson, who worked on local newspapers for more than 30 years, has died on his 60th birthday.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumour only a matter of weeks ago and died in hospital.

Peter wrote for the Belper News and Derby Trader before joining the Derby Evening Telegraph as a reporter in the 1970s.

After marrying in the early 1980s he left the Telegraph in 1987 to become a press officer for the Country Landowners Association.

He always maintained a “deep knowledge and understanding of the local area” by contributing to publications such as The Derbyshire Magazine and enjoyed sharing an opinion in the letter pages of the Derby Evening Telegraph.

Gordon Wilson, night editor at the Derby Evening Telegraph, who worked alongside Peter in the 1970s, said: “He was a real all-rounder and could turn his hand to any type of story, but it was as a feature writer that he was really outstanding.”

His funeral will be held at Derby Cathedral at 1.45pm tomorrow, when friends and colleagues will pay their final respects. Peter leaves his wife, Linda, and a daughter, Rebecca.